Kyle Ginsbach

Though the aforementioned 2019 trade that sent Trent Grisham and Zach Davies to the Padres has primarily played out in the Brewers' favor, Luis Urías, the key piece of the trade, hasn't exactly progressed like the Brewers envisioned. When the Brewers acquired Urías, they envisioned their everyday shortstop for the foreseeable future. Several throwing errors and mental mistakes later, Willy Adames strode into Milwaukee and took the shortstop job quite convincingly. Urías saw time at both second and third base following the Adames trade but was still on the outside looking in at the end of 2021. The full expectation was for Urías to take over the starting third base job in 2022, but a plethora of injuries has forced Urías to split time all over the infield. The expectation going forward is still likely as a full-time third baseman, but it remains to be seen if Urías is truly up to the task. On the offensive side, Urías has only progressed slightly from his days in San Diego. His 2022 slash line sits at .232/.324/.404, good for an OPS+ of 104. His defense has been problematic, posting a -7 OAA and a -3% success rate added. His fWAR for the season sits at 0.9. None of this is bad per se, but it's hard not to be disappointed. Urías was supposed to be capable of being more than just average. The fact of the matter is, if Urías is going to be playing third base, he needs to be better than average offensively. When comparing Urías to other starting third basemen around the league, he ranks 22nd in fWAR (Min 300 PAs). If his bat can tick upwards like the Brewers were initially expecting, they can almost surely deal with his subpar defense. There only remains one question to be asked. How likely is it for Urías to breakout offensively? With a dive into Urías' baseball savant page, here's what you can find. What probably jumps out at anyone is that amount of blue. Luckily, the red circles are signs of encouragement. In the age of the three true outcomes, Urías isn't having much of a problem fitting in. His BB% has remained above 10% for the second consecutive season, and both his Whiff% and Chase Rate being low could suggest his strikeout rate could start trending downwards. As for his power, his 20 grade power tool given to him as a prospect has turned out much better than expected, as he's already demonstrated he's capable of 20+ homer seasons. There are reasons for optimism, but there are some concerns too. To put it bluntly, Urías is playing to his size. The lack of solid contact is eating into his expected metrics, and it's also playing out on the field. It's not that Urías isn't capable of solid contact - he certainly is - it just isn't coming often enough. If you need evidence of his potential power, look no further than his homerun in Tampa Bay earlier in the year. Potential or not, Urías isn't a prospect anymore. While he certainly has enjoyed more success as a Brewer, he has arguably taken a step back in 2022, when it was supposed to be his first real opportunity to establish himself as a major league ballplayer. To cut the chase, there is no simple answer for the future if it involves Luis Urías. He's still only 25 years of age, and shows encouraging signs of more potential, but it just isn't translating on the field. If the Brewers are looking for consistent competitive teams, the future of Urías should be up in the air. A liability on defense and only average offensively, the Brewers need to ask themself where he truly fits. Now it's your turn. Do you think the Brewers can reasonably expect more out of Urías going forward? What do you think Urías' future looks like?

The Brewers have gone 8-7 since the All-Star break, and 1-5 since the trade deadline. They've fallen out of a playoff spot completely, and are now trailing the red hot St. Louis Cardinals. Below are the five things that need to improve if the Brewers want to see playoff baseball for the fifth straight year. 1. The Middle Relief Has Been Bad In an interesting turn of events, the Brewers greatest strength has become their crippling weakness. It hasn’t been just a six-game struggle, it's been a month long problem. Over the last 30 days (July 8th - August 7th) the bullpen has a ERA of 5.70, good for the second worst in the MLB during that time period. They’ve surrendered 19 home runs, by far the most in the last 30 days. However, you can’t throw the top end of the Brewers pen under the bus. Both Devin Williams and Brad Boxberger have posted an combined ERA under 3.00 since the break, so the dirt is practically only on the middle relievers' hands. 2. Willy Adames is Struggling Adames’ was one of the Brewers players that was hoping to turn it around in the second half. Instead, it looks like the Brewers shortstop is the only one that didn’t get the memo. While the Crew's offense has been great since the break, scoring 83 runs and leading the MLB in OPS since the midsummer classic, Adames has not. Adames is slashing just .221/.243/.397 since the break, and has WRC+ of 70. Even though he is striking out less in the second half, the hits still aren’t falling like they were in 2021. 3. The Defense Has Been Sloppy Maybe the defense overall hasn’t been so poor in the second half, but errors are becoming more timely, and the results have been painful. The Brewers have already allowed 11 unearned runs in the second half, and you could certainly argue some unmarked fielding blunders have cost them more. Usually solid defensive options like Hunter Renfroe and Victor Caratini have been struggling in their respective roles defensively, while noted poor defenders like Rowdy Tellez have arguably been worse. 4. The Starting Pitching is Lacking its Usual Effectiveness At a brief glance, the starters have been solid since the break. As a core the starters have posted an ERA of 3.44, good enough to place the Brewers in the top third of the league since the break. However, the run prevention is far from the actual issue. Brewers starters have walked over 11 percent of the batters they’ve faced since the break, causing their starts to be short, forcing the already weakened bullpen to work even more. Although they’ve done a good job preventing runners from scoring, they haven't done enough to keep themselves in the games. 5. Negativity Surrounding the Hader Trade This last one is completely intangible, but I think it's having an effect on the team. It was pretty obvious by some of the interviews conducted with the players that they were shocked by the front office’s decision to move Josh Hader. I can’t directly blame the front office for losses because they decided to trade Hader, because there has been no scenario where having Hader would have likely changed the result of any given loss. I do feel obligated to mention the barrage of reporter questions and online negativity that has been facing the team the week following the deal, though. The players undoubtedly have tried to avoid this, but if you’ve been on baseball space in the web that past week, you know it's been unavoidable. It’s hard to really pinpoint the degree to which this has been affecting the team, but for the players' sake, both reporters and fans need to move on.

It might finally be happening. Between injuries, poor play, and batted-ball bad luck, Christian Yelich hasn’t been the same player since 2019. While the 2018-2019 Yelich might be a blip in the past, the new and improved second half Yelich isn’t a bad consolation prize. The Brewers are 7-2 since the All-Star break, and in those nine games, Yelich has recorded at least one hit. He’s introduced a new mechanical change into his swing, doing away with his old leg kick in favor of a toe tap. The new approach has helped Yelich timing wise, and done wonders for his production too. His slash line since the break sits at .344/488/.563, good for a WRC+ of 185. If he can keep up this absurd pace, it would be Yelich’s best second half since his MVP season in 2018. Sure, it's a small sample size. But so far, Yelich's numbers and his new found willingness to go opposite field are plenty valuable. It’s been said that Yelich needs to be on his A-game for the Brewers to go far, and so far, so good.

In recent memory, the Craig Counsell's Brewers have very much been a second half team. Since 2018 (excluding the shortened 2019 season), they've played at a .607 rate after the All-Star break compared to a .533 before. This year, the Brewers stumbled upon a golden opportunity by beginning the second half with a six-game homestand, and they took advantage. They won five of those six games, increased their lead in the division to three, and most importantly, sent the fans home happy. The theme of the homestand was certainly offense, but the pitching side had some positive notes, too. Aaron Ashby turned in his best effort of the season in the only loss, going 7 innings, allowing two earned runs off of five hits, while striking out nine. Both Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff lacked their normal effectiveness in their three combined starts, but fought through and gave the team the chance to win. The bullpen, minus the 10-9 victory over the Rockies on Sunday, was fantastic too. However, the Brewers offense is what’s really worth noting. The Brewers bats scored 42 runs in the 6 games, good for an average of seven per game. They also drew 31 walks, and hit 12 home runs. Everyone is contributing too: Christian Yelich has yet to fail to record a hit in the second half, and is slashing .304/.467/.522. Hunter Renfroe has mashed four home runs and driven in 10. Kolten Wong, who had just a 695 OPS in the first half, has already recorded nine hits. Luis Urias, who's recorded two walk-offs in the second-half already, is slashing an absurd .381/.462/.714. The damage from the offense is coming early and late, and it’s happening more often than not. Right now, the Crew’s bats are the perfect combination of patience and power. Looking forward, the Brewers next nine games are scheduled against the Red Sox, Pirates, and Reds. All three teams rank in the bottom third in team ERA. If the Brewers want to continue to build momentum offensively, the next three series are the perfect way to do it. It's also reasonable to believe the pitching staff simply just needs time to begin to regroup and get healthy, and with a red-hot offense, there's no better time than now. Obviously we can’t pretend this type of outburst is sustainable. It’s simply not. However, all signs are encouraging. The pitching hasn’t lived up to the standards they’ve set for themselves, and the offense has picked them up. The run production will almost surely slow down, but the run prevention might pick up. If the Brewers continue to ride the trends they’ve set over the last week it’ll almost surely lead to a division crown come October.

The MLB season has reached its halfway point. With the All-Star break and the festivities taking the full front of attention, it may be time to take a break from the fun and reflect on the first half of the season. Like a teacher handing out the dreaded report card, it's time to see how the Brewers fared in half number one. If you would like to see the infielders, outfielders and catchers grades, check out those links for previous stories earlier this week. Before jumping into the grading breakdown, it's important to lay some guidelines. Grading is based on the players performance through the first 93 games of the 2022 season. Listed with the given grades is the players slash line (AVG/OBP/SLG) as of July 18, and either their OAA (Outs Above Average) or percentile grades in pitch framing. The grades are also based on both the offensive and defensive value the players should have been reasonably expected to provide, and is completely subjective. The purpose of the grades are simply to reflect, and not to promote any distaste towards any certain player. Jace Peterson * .252/.325/.439 * 7 OAA * Super Utility Grade: A Coming into the season, Peterson projected to be the Brewers de facto utility man. To say Peterson has passed expectations would be an understatement. Playing in 80 games and logging more than 240 plate appearances, all Peterson has done is hit, posting a 115 OPS+. His bat has been steady and consistent, but his real value comes from his defense. Tied with Adames for the team lead in OAA, Peterson has likely been the team's best defender. Seeing time at 1B, 2B, 3B, LF, and RF, he has shown fans he’s capable of performing wherever Craig Counsell has placed him. It’s hard to imagine Peterson will see the same amount of playing time post All-Star break, but if he does, he shows no signs of being anything but the pillar of consistency he’s been so far. Mike Brosseau * .287/.367/.460 * -4 OAA * Infield Grade: B+ Despite the impressive slash line, Brosseau only earns a B+. Between competition with Jace Peterson and injuries, he hasn’t seen much time on the field. There isn’t much else to note for Brosseau, as he’s only appeared in 40 games, and logged less than 100 plate appearances. Despite not seeing much time, it’s hard to complain about his bat though. He even leads the Brewers in both AVG and OBP. However his defense has been poor. Brosseau has commited 5 errors in his limited number of appearances, and his -4 OAA is less than ideal. Brosseau’s role with the team is completely up in the air. It’s hard to predict what he’d do with more playing time, or how the Brewers would give it to him. Keston Hiura * .238/.354/.451 * -1 OAA * AAA-Wisconsin Grade: B The only player to receive a grade that's currently in AAA, Hiura has quietly put together a season that's surpassed expectations. If you want to read more about his oddly productive season, do it here. Looking forward, Hiura should see more playing time. He’s been too good against right-handed pitching to not get consistent at-bats. It’s never too late for Hiura to be considered in future plans. Jonathan Davis * .237/.348/.254 * 2 OAA * Outfielder Grade: B- Perhaps one of the biggest surprises of the season is Davis making his way into the Brewers crowded outfield. The quick-footed center fielder has given the Brewers some quality play in the outfield while some regulars found themselves on the IL. Davis earns a B- grade largely due to his defense and bag stealing abilities, though he hasn’t been awful at the plate either. His .348 OBP is certainly valuable, although he brings little power with a SLG of just .254. There is some question whether Davis will have a role after the trade deadline, but if he does, it likely won’t come with much playing time. Now it's your turn. Are the grades fair? Would you give extra credit or demerits to some of the players? If so, let's hear it in the comments below.

The MLB season has reached its halfway point. With the All-Star break and the festivities taking the full front of attention, it may be time to take a break from the fun and reflect on the first half of the season. Like a teacher handing out the dreaded report card, it's time to see how the Brewers fared in half number one. Check out our stories earlier this week if you would like to see the infielders and outfielders grades. Before jumping into the grading breakdown, it's important to lay some guidelines. Grading is based on the players performance through the first 93 games of the 2022 season. Listed with the given grades is the players slash line (AVG/OBP/SLG) as of July 18, and either their OAA (Outs Above Average) or percentile grades in pitch framing. The grades are also based on both the offensive and defensive value the players should have been reasonably expected to provide, and is completely subjective. The purpose of the grades are simply to reflect, and not to promote any distaste towards any certain player. Omar Narváez * .236/.327/.356 * 83rd Percentile in Pitch Framing * Catcher Grade: B- Omar Narváez made his first All-Star team last year as the Brewers catcher, and in 2022, he hasn’t had the encore fans may have hoped. Outside of one singular hot streak, Narváez has been below average at the plate, and hasn’t produced much power. His defense remains good however, as Narváez deserves a large amount of credit for helping hold the Brewers staff together thus far. Narváez should benefit from the All-Star break just as much as anyone else on the Crew, and hopefully he can ride a new hot streak to the end of the season. If not, his work with the staff should continue to be excellent. Victor Caratini * .244/.362/.441 * 62nd Percentile in Pitch Framing * Backup Catcher Grade: A- A former division rival, Caratini is putting together a career year as part of Milwaukee’s catching platoon. Caratini has arguably been the team's best offensive player, and arguably been the team's most clutch one as well. His defense, while worse than Narvaez’s, is still above league average. If anyone has passed expectations this year, it’s been Caratini. The catching tandem in Milwaukee hasn’t generated many complaints, and Caratini is a large part of that. Looking forward, it’s hard to see things change, and fans should expect Caratini to continue to thrive in his new-found role. Pedro Severino * .214/.313/.357 * Doesn’t qualify for Pitch Framing * Third Catcher Grade: F Though the sample size is small, Severino has already shown he’s practically wasting a roster spot. Suspended for the first half of the season due to PED’s, Severino has returned to little fanfare. He’s easily the worst of the three catchers defensively, as if he isn’t going to hit, he has no place on the team, especially when bats like Hiura are stuck in AAA. In all honesty, Severino’s time as a Brewer should come to an end. Milwaukee needs to cut their losses with him, because right now, they can use his spot in much better ways. Now it's your turn. Are the grades fair? Would you give extra credit or demerits to some of the players? If so, let's hear it in the comments below.

The MLB season has reached its halfway point. With the All-Star break and the festivities taking the full front of attention, it may be time to take a break from the fun and reflect on the first half of the season. Like a teacher handing out the dreaded report card, it's time to see how the Brewers fared in half number one. If you would like to see the infielders grades, check out yesterday’s story. Before jumping into the grading breakdown, it's important to lay some guidelines. Grading is based on the players performance through the first 93 games of the 2022 season. Listed with the given grades is the players slash line (AVG/OBP/SLG) as of July 18, and either their OAA (Outs Above Average) or percentile grades in pitch framing. The grades are also based on both the offensive and defensive value the players should have been reasonably expected to provide, and is completely subjective. The purpose of the grades are simply to reflect, and not to promote any distaste towards any certain player. Christian Yelich * .251/.347/.379 * -3 OAA * Left Field Grade: B- It’s been an uphill climb ever since Chirstain Yelich ended his 2019 season with a knee injury. His MVP-Caliber production has faded, but the new Yelich hasn’t been nearly as bad as some fans would want you to believe. After a slow start, the Brewers moved Yelich to the leadoff spot, where he thrived. His slash line batting first sits at .288/.390/.400. The only thing Yelich is truly missing from years past is his power. Looking forward, fans can see Yelich is closer to regaining his former self than has been since the injury. Advanced metrics have always loved Yelich as a hitter, with this year being no exception. It remains to be seen what numbers he actually posts in the second half. Tyrone Taylor * .228/.277/.423 * 2 OAA * Center Field(?) Grade: C+ Expectations for Taylor coming into the season looked to be him filling the role as the 5th outfielder on the roster. But Lorenzo Cain’s disastrous start led to him being designated for assignment, and when injuries began to pile up, Taylor was thrown into a bigger role, with varying success. He has struggled to get on-base, posting the lowest OBP of anyone still with the team. However, he’s shown flashes of power and clutch hitting, with 9 HR, and a .375 AVG with RISP. His defense has been good too, but the Brewers would like the bat to be a bit better. Taylor is an easy player to root for, and he’ll probably see a return to the lineup after the All-Star Break, assuming there are not setbacks in his recovery from a concussion. It remains to be seen whether or not the Brewers will add another center fielder at the deadline, so it’s hard to predict what kind of second half Taylor is capable of having. Andrew McCutchen * .255/.317/.386 * -1 OAA * Designated Hitter Grade: B- A former MVP in Pittsburgh, Andrew McCutchen was a late addition in the offseason. The 35-year-old struggled early in the season after a brief hot start, but has picked it up as of late. Serving as the Brewers primary DH, Cutch doesn’t see much time in the field, but has been solid when asked to play the corner outfield spots. McCutchen's slash line since June 1st sits at .296/.368/.461. This could be omen for good things to come, as he is too good of a player to be posting league average numbers over a full season. Hunter Renfroe * .243/.294/.477 * 1 OAA * Right Field Grade: B Hunter Renfroe was acquired in a last second deal before the lockout in a trade that sent Jackie Bradley Jr. back to Boston. If fans remember the season JBJ had last year, it’s easy to conclude Renfroe has been much, much better. After a slow start he began to hit better, but numerous injuries have sidelined him for a large chunk of games. His defense, especially his arm, has been as advertised in RF, which is a huge plus too. If Renfroe can stay healthy the rest of the way through the season, the consistent playing time will allow him to be a key contributor to the Brewers both offensively and defensively. That remains to be seen though. Now it's your turn. Are the grades fair? Would you give extra credit or demerits to some of the players? If so, let's hear it in the comments below.

The MLB season has reached its halfway point. With the All-Star break and the festivities taking the full front of attention, it may be time to take a break from the fun and reflect on the first half of the season. Like a teacher handing out the dreaded report card, it's time to see how the Brewers fared in half number one. Before jumping into the grading breakdown, it's important to lay some guidelines. Grading is based on the players performance through the first 93 games of the 2022 season. Listed with the given grades is the players slash line (AVG/OBP/SLG) as of July 18, and either their OAA (Outs Above Average) or percentile grades in pitch framing. The grades are also based on both the offensive and defensive value the players should have been reasonably expected to provide, and is completely subjective. The purpose of the grades are simply to reflect, and not to promote any distaste towards any certain player. Rowdy Tellez * .227/.305/.458 * -3 OAA * First Base Grade: B+ Rowdy Tellez’s first season as the Brewers' full-time first basemen has been filled with plenty of excitement. Tellez’s calling card is his power, and with 18 big-flies on his ledger, it’s fair to say Rowdy’s performed up to expectations. Though both his average and on-base numbers have dipped over the past month, there is no sign of a permanent slow down for Tellez going forward. In fact, in the month of July, despite hitting a mere .148, Tellez’s K% remains under 20% and his .122 BABIP may help explain his recent offensive struggles. As a defender, it’s not surprising the advanced metrics aren’t a fan of Tellez, but his defense has been good enough not to generate any widespread complaints. It remains to be seen what kind of numbers Tellez will put up by year's end, or even if Tellez will continue to get the chance to continue to play every day. Should the Brewers stick with Tellez, and they should, fans shouldn’t be surprised if Tellez continues his hitting ways throughout the rest of the season. Kolten Wong *.227/.313/.382 * -9 OAA * Second Base Grade: D It’s quietly been a brutal season for Kolten Wong. Wong has seen a fairly sizable dip in his offensive production, and has fallen out of his usual leadoff spot in favor of Christian Yelich . Most notably though, Wong’s seen his defensive value plummet. Usually a gold glove contender, Wong is having his worst defensive season ever. His -9 outs above average ranks him at the 3rd worst defender in the league, a difference of 11 outs from his previous year. Given Wong has been below average in pretty much every asset of the game, it was hard to give him a respectable grade. He may have his nagging calf injury to blame, and with a track record of better performance, Wong will probably, and hopefully, be better in the second half. Willy Adames * .220/.294/.477 * 7 OAA * Shortstop Grade: B+ Although Adames may not be putting up the offensive numbers he did in his first season in Milwaukee, he’s still been one of the Brewers most valuable players. His 19 home runs not only leads the Brewers, but it leads all National League shortstops as well. Despite not getting many hits to fall, he still leads the team in slugging, tied with Hunter Renfroe. But even given his offensive production, the value most worth mentioning is his defense. Adames is currently tied for the team lead in OAA with Jace Peterson, and he’s done it playing a premium position. Looking forward towards the second half, fans shouldn’t be surprised if Adames goes on a tear. All advanced metrics point to an uptick in offensive production, and if Adames’ defense stays elite, Adames will once again end the season as one of the Brewers best position pieces. Luis Urias * .223/.314/.384 * -6 OAA * Third Base Grade: C Urias began the season on the IL with a quad injury before joining the Brewers as the regular third basemen. His bat has been streaky so far, but despite his unexciting slash line, Urias has still managed to pop 10 home runs. That being said, the Brewers expect more from Urias. Urias is expected to be the third baseman of the future, and he still hasn’t solidified that role over any other options on the team. As for his defense, his defense has been poor by OAA standards, but fans who watched Urias play last year will tell you his defense looks much improved. It is also worth mentioning he has spent time playing 2B, SS, and 3B this year, so some inconsistency is expected. Urias will need to boost his offensive production in the second half if the Brewers are aiming to improve their offense from within. His 97 WRC+ is just below average, and if the Brewers want to see more runs across the plate, Urias is one of the players that needs to, and can, be better. Now it's your turn. Are the grades fair? Would you give extra credit or demerits to some of the players? If so, let's hear it in the comments below.

In one of the most odd moves of the year thus far, the Brewer optioned Keston Hiura to AAA on July 13, despite him hitting quite well. Should Hiura come back, there might be a certain way the Brewers should aim to utilize Hiura in the future. Keston Hiura is a one-of-a-kind type of player, but not in the way you expect. The career path of Hiura has been well documented among Brewer fans. The 9th overall pick in 2017, Hiura shot through the Brewers minor league system using his raw power and bat-to-ball skills. When he came up in 2019, all he did was rake. His slash line in 2019 was .303/.368/.570, and while his defense at second base was a concern, the bat made it well worth it. The shortened 2020 season was a different story though. Hiura struck out a NL leading 85 times in just 59 games, and his numbers suffered because of it. If 2020 was a bad dream, 2021 was a nightmare. His strikeout problems persisted, his defense faltered, and his numbers deflated for the second straight season. Because of it, Hiura spent the majority of the year bouncing between AAA and the big league club. With the burden of expectations greatly decreased coming into the current year, fans may have pushed Hiura to the back of their minds. But he brought value, and people have slowly started to take notice. At the halfway point of the season, Hiura’s slash line sits at .238/.354/.451, good enough for a .805 OPS and a OPS+ of 127. His defense, often branded as a major negative, has been only slightly below average. Hiura’s having his best season since his rookie year, and not only is he not getting playing time, he’s spending time in the minor leagues yet again. You may ask yourself why that might be, and it’s not necessarily because the Brewers are blind to his value. Hiura has seen a good quantity of both lefties and righties in 2022, but Hiura is hitting just .161/.277/.214 versus lefties, and .303/.418/.652 against righties. Yes, that’s incredibly unusual, because Hiura bats right-handed. Usually, one would expect to see exactly the opposite split. This isn’t just a small sample size type of thing either, unless small sample size means “Hiura’s whole career.” He’s had 665 career plate appearances against right-handed pitching and boasts a career .861 OPS. But versus left-handed pitchers, he has an OPS of just .574. It is almost unheard of to have this kind of reverse splits, unless a player is actively being hidden from facing good right-handed pitching, and only exposed to bad right-handed pitching. There isn’t a lot of evidence that this has happened to Hiura in the past. He’s had 71% of his career plate appearances versus right-handed pitchers, almost exactly the ratio one would expect from a player playing every day. But this year has been different. A nearly 50/50 ratio could suggest Hiura is being hidden versus right-handed pitching. Is Hiura being hidden from good pitching? Or is he simply being hidden from playing time in general? Here’s a list of opposing right handed starters Hiura has and hasn’t started against in the past month. RHP Hiura Started Against JT Brubaker, 4.02 ERA Z. Thompson, 4.09 ERA A. Sampson, 3.33 ERA M. Swarmer, 5.03 ERA R. Contreras, 3.78 ERA A. Wainwright, 3.00 ERA M. Mikolas, 2.62 ERA RHP Hiura Didn’t Start Against Z. Thompson, 4.09 ERA B. Wilson, 6.60 ERA JT Brubaker, 4.02 ERA S. Baz, 5.00 ERA J. Berríos, 5.38 ERA A. Manoah, 2.34 ERA T. Megill, 5.07 ERA Looking at the list of righty starters the Brewers have faced in the last month, you can see Hiura isn’t getting held back against elite righties, and in fact, his starts against righties are random. As referenced earlier, the split this year is even more pronounced. Perhaps that is because he is facing fewer top-tier right-handers. Perhaps it's because he’s simply not getting the playing time he deserves. But it’s odd that the Brewers are looking at reverse splits and batting him less against his strong side, even if it is untraditional. Certainly, a .476 OPS versus left-handed pitchers isn’t something they should be trying to leverage more. There's other reasons for newly inspired faith in Hiura too. He's posted a career high walk rate of 11%. His hard hit rate nearly matches that of his rookie year, and though his K% is up, his whiff rate shows his strikeout rate could go down. Hiura's also seeing the highest fly ball rate of his career, which is promising for a power hitter like Hiura. His Barrel% sits at 18.2%, nearly 4 percent higher than his career average. . There’s a lot going on here, but if the Brewers want to maximize Hiura's value, or come closer to solving this reverse splits mystery, they should be finding a way to pencil his name in the lineup whenever there's a righty on the mound. It really shouldn't be hard for the Brewers to find Hiura playing time either. He has shown he can play 3 positions, those being 2B, 1B, and LF. The Brewers know they can slot him in at DH too. The answer shouldn't be if they give him playing time, it should be when. It truly is a simple fix. More righties, less lefties, and the Brewers have themself a very productive offensive player, and an improving defensive one. With the Brewers almost certainly looking to make trade moves in the coming month, they might want to look within first. Keston Hiura can - and has - hit, and the Brewers should give him the chance to do it more often.

There are a lot of options available in the outfield market. The Brewers have room to get creative; they can make a splash for a star, or they could sign a solid platoon bat. Milwaukee isn’t the only team in need of another player to roam the outfield though. The market figures to be competitive, so the Crew needs to be decisive, and quick. The “Fit Level” shows how an incoming player would mesh into the Brewers, while the “likelihood” displays how realistic it is for that player to be acquired. A Duo of Young Orioles Outfielders - Austin Hays, Anthony Santander - Baltimore Orioles Hays Santander The Baltimore Orioles haven’t been contenders for a long time, and while they’re starting to make strides towards competing again, the O’s will be sellers in 2022 yet again. Some of Baltimore’s most enticing assets are their outfielders, namely Austin Hays and Anthony Santander . Both Hays and Santander have proven to be consistent offensive threats this year, and both come with multiple years of control. Adding either player to the Brewers would certainly add some offensive production, while the defense would be unlikely to falter. The Orioles have been getting calls for both for some time, but this is likely the deadline where Baltimore decides if the young outfielders are going to be part of their future. The 27-year-old Santander is under team control through 2024 and 26-year-old Hays for another year after that. So a lot depends on how close the Orioles think they are to competing in the monstrous AL East. Fit Level: High Likelihood: Very Low Although adding one of the young outfielders would greatly benefit the Brewers, there is a strong possibility neither player is moved, and if they are, the price will likely be too much for the Crew. The Other O’s Option - Trey Mancini - Baltimore Orioles A potential free agent in 2023 (he has a $10M mutual option), Trey Mancini has been quite the story over the past couple years, and might be the Orioles most sought after asset. Though most of Mancini’s time has come as the designated hitter, he’s played a handful of games in the outfield, and is a first baseman by trade. In 2022, Mancini has seen a bit of a decline in his power, but has posted good offensive numbers otherwise. Adding the 30-year-old would give the Brewers a boost offensively, and give open up some options with the DH spot. Fit Level: High Likelihood: Fairly Low Mancini is indeed the perfect fit for the Brewers, as he brings offensive legitimacy and defensive versatility. The market for Mancini will likely be intense, and it’s hard to imagine the Brewers will end up winning this sweepstake, but it's worth a try. “Benny Biceps” - Andrew Benintendi - Kansas City Royals Perhaps one of the more recent popular names to be thrown around, Benintendi will be a free agent for the first time in 2023. Though he hasn't been much of a power threat thus far, Benentendi still boasts a competitive slash line of .308/.372/.394, and a track record of a strong glove in left field. He has also found a knack for making contact, as his strikeout rate sits below 15%, which would instantly make him one of the more reliable contact hitters the Brewers have. As a pure rental, the 27-year-old shouldn’t fetch too steep of a price, but that could change depending on how competitive the outfield market becomes. Fit Level: Medium Likelihood: Moderate Though a trade for Benintendi would likely be cost effective compared to other deals, his decreased power numbers may be a cause for concern, and his on-base skills could still regress to his career norms. Still, his bat-to-ball skills are enticing for a team with high strikeout numbers, and his glove would be a major plus. A Resurging Veteran - David Peralta - Arizona Diamondbacks Although the D-Backs have outperformed expectations in 2022, veterans like David Peralta are figured to be flipped for prospects. Peralta is now 34 years of age, but is turning in one of his better offensive seasons in a walk year. Though Peralta is older in age, his advanced hitting metrics remain very solid, and surprisingly, his defense has been well above average. The fit for Peralta is reminiscent to Eduardo Escobar last year, so it makes sense for the Brewers and Diamondbacks to strike a deal once again. Fit Level: High Likelihood: Fairly High Adding a rental veteran bat with a good glove would certainly help the Brewers improve, and should help the Brewers retain more sustenance in the minor league system. Though Peralta would likely force the Brewers to play McCutchen in CF and Yelich at DH, Peralta’s addition is too great to not heavily consider. Another Vet - Charlie Blackmon - Colorado Rockies Charlie Blackmon still has another year after this one remaining on the 6-figure contract he signed in 2018, though his time in Colorado, and maybe the big leagues, might be coming to a close. Blackmon has been in a steady decline over the past few years, but his numbers suggest he may still have some good baseball left in him. His contract is not something the Brewers would be looking to take on, so they’d have to compensate for that in a trade. Fit Level: Low Likelihood: Very Low At 36, Blackmon is too old to be reliable, has spent his career in hitters paradise, and his contract is awful. Tyrone Taylor would likely be better than Blackmon at this point, so there’s no need to force this deal. The Major Splash - Juan Soto - Washington Nationals Juan Soto may just be the best hitter on the planet, and although he’s not performing up to his own standards this year, the addition of Soto would instantly make the Brewers contenders for their first title. Soto boasts an insane career slash line of .290/.424/.534, yet is only 23 years of age. Already owed 17 million in his second year of arbitration, talks of a contract extension have heated up between Soto and the Nationals. Though Soto has expressed a desire to test free agency in 2025, he's also stated he is open to other possibilities as well. The star outfielder would fetch a very hefty price, and in the Brewers case, would cost them more than a handful of their top prospects. Fit Level: Very High Likelihood: Near Impossible Assuming Soto is even available, paying the price of Juan Soto is going to be steep, no matter who’s calling. Obviously Soto’s body of work speaks for itself, and adding him would greatly improve the team, but a trade like this is an unnecessary risk for a team like the Brewers in the long run. The Division Rivals - Bryan Reynolds (Pittsburgh Pirates), Ian Happ (Chicago Cubs) Reynolds Happ Ian Happ and Bryan Reynolds are no stranger to the Brewers, and both have put up strong campaigns so far. Neither is a rental player, with Happ becoming a FA in 2024, and Reynolds not until 2026, so the Brewers would figure to part ways with 2-3 high value prospects in a trade. Both have also drawn significant trade interest among contenders of all tiers, and both could also end up factoring into their current clubs plan. Making a move for Reynolds in particular would be expensive, but could help the Brewers stay contenders for years to come. Fit Level: High Likelihood: Low While both could help the team now, and in the future, the Brewers should be careful to not waste time forcing a deal, as both the Cubs and Pirates likely would be hesitant to trade controllable assets to a division rival. A Bad Reputation - Tommy Pham - Cincinnati Reds Tommy Pham is a newcomer to the central division, but has made his name known. Pham has quietly turned in a nice season behind the controversy he’s stirred, and has a proven track record in the past. Pham is likely a half-season rental, as his mutual option would likely be declined if he reaches desired production. Fit Level: Low Likelihood: Medium With the Reds currently sitting last in the Central, they likely wouldn't mind trading a rental to the Brewers. Pham’s been solid this year, but his reputation should be a deal-breaker. Another Big Outfield Arm - Ramon Laureano Ramon Laureano recently finished serving an 80-game suspension, and while that isn’t what you want on your resume, the A’s center fielder brings other things to the table. Laureano has been average offensively, but he’s hit well against lefties, and has built a reputation for being an excellent center fielder. Laureano also comes with two years of control, something the Brewers have favored in the past. Fit Level: Medium Likelihood: Low Rumors have been particularly quiet on Laureano thus far, and while the team control is nice, Laureano would likely split time with Tyrone Taylor. Trading for a platoon bat can be beneficial, but it might not be the splash the Brewers are looking for. Struggling Star: Joey Gallo Joey Gallo's tenure in the Bronx has been bad. There's no other way of putting it. In what was supposed to be an ideal fit, the former Ranger has struggled putting the ball in play, and struggled to keep his starting job. If the Yankees are to move Gallo, It'll likely be in a trade where they benefit immediately as well. Gallo is a stellar defender and has major thunder in his bat, but is heavily prone to striking out, so he'd fit in with a Milwaukee team with the same problem. Fit Level: Very Low Likelihood: Low It'd be downright foolish for the Brewers to trade for Gallo considering his performance this year. Even at an ideal level, Gallo's strikeout issues would hamper the Brewers more than his power and glove ever could. Is there anyone from the list you'd like to see in MKE? Is there anyone I missed?